The Greater Louisville Pride Foundation has released its 2025 Hometown Heroes class, including some legendary names in sports and the arts.
As of now, there are no specific details as to when and where the banners will be placed around Louisville, but the names will live on in fame nonetheless.
Teddy Abrams Grammy-Winning Conductor Louisville Orchestra Teddy Abrams became the Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra in 2014 at just 27 years old, and his tenure has been marked by numerous accolades. He earned a Grammy in 2024 and was honored as Musical America’s Conductor of the Year in 2022. @teddyconducts on InstagramKen Clay Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Louisville Arts CommunityKen Clay has been a prominent leader in Louisville’s arts community, holding key roles in several arts organizations, including a 21-year tenure as Vice President of Programming at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. His contributions earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fund for the Arts. Clay is also the co-author of Two Centuries of Black Louisville: A Photographic History. KETWill Smith Two-Time World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers Will Smith, a former Louisville Cardinal, has achieved remarkable success as the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning two World Series championships and earning two All-Star selections. In the spring of 2023, he represented the United States in the World Baseball Classic. Before his college career, Smith attended Kentucky Country Day School. ShutterstockNicole Scherzinger International Music Icon From Pussycat Dolls to BroadwayNicole Scherzinger, a duPont Manual alum, rose to fame as a member of the pop group the Pussycat Dolls from 2003 to 2010, with the group’s two albums selling 55 million copies worldwide. Since then, she has served as a panelist on The Masked Singer, starred in award-winning Broadway productions, and lent her voice to a character in Disney’s Moana. ShutterstockOksana Masters 19-Time Paralympic Medalist Multi-Sport AthleteOksana Masters added to her legacy last summer in Paris, winning her 19th Paralympic medal — one of nine golds she has earned during a 12-year career spanning seven Paralympic Games. Born in Ukraine and raised in Derby City, this multi-sport athlete has excelled in cycling and rowing during the summer games and cross-country skiing in the winter games. @oksanamasters on InstagramDr. Kevin Cosby President of Simmons College Louisville’s Only HBCUSince 2005, Dr. Kevin Cosby has served as the 13th President of Simmons College, playing a pivotal role in securing accreditation for the 146-year-old institution through the Association of Biblical Higher Education. In 2015, under his leadership, Simmons achieved recognition from the U.S. Department of Education as the 107th Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and Louisville’s only HBCU. Additionally, Cosby has dedicated 45 years as the pastor of St. Stephen Church. Kentucky Commission on Human RightsJimmy Ellis World Heavyweight Champion Louisville Boxing LegendLouisville isn’t only known for Muhammad Ali. The late boxer Jimmy Ellis, who passed away in 2014, started as Ali’s sparring partner before making his own mark as a world champion, holding the WBA Heavyweight title from 1968 to 1970. Ellis was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. Following his boxing career, he contributed to his community by organizing athletic programs for the Louisville Metro Parks Department. @boxingnewsandhistory on Instagram
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Caleb is currently the Editor in Chief for LEO Weekly from Southern Indiana, AKA the Suburbs of Louisville, and has worked for other news outlets, including The Courier Journal and Spectrum News 1 KY....
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